ENGWE Zip grey at Fatbikeskopen.nl

The grey ENGWE Zip is the neutral counterpart to the olive-green version. With a bike you regularly take indoors, to the office, or onto the train, a subdued color attracts less attention than a striking green. Otherwise, this is the same compact folding bike: seventeen kilos, 16-inch wheels, an LG battery that also works as a power bank via USB-C, and hydraulic disc brakes. Below are the things you want to know about it.

Folding and taking it with you

The frame and handlebars fold, after which the bike fits in a car trunk, stands in a hallway, or can go on the train with you. At seventeen kilos, it is light enough to carry up a flight of stairs without stopping halfway. That sets the Zip apart from heavier folding bikes: you can fold those too, but in practice you leave them where they are because carrying them is too much effort. With this one, taking it with you remains a realistic option.

Range and the USB-C function

The LG battery has a capacity of 360 watt-hours, and the claimed range is up to 120 kilometers. That is optimistic for this capacity and applies to a light rider in the lowest assistance mode on flat terrain. Realistically, expect forty to sixty kilometers. The USB-C port is a practical addition: you can use it to charge your phone on the go from the bike’s battery. Fully charging the bike itself takes four to six hours, so overnight is more than enough. You can charge it from a regular power outlet, so no special setup is needed. A battery lasts longer if you do not routinely run it all the way down to zero and charge it indoors in winter.

Riding on 16-inch wheels

Small wheels keep the bike compact and agile, but you feel the road surface more noticeably than with larger wheels. It has suspension in the seat post, which absorbs the worst impacts for your lower back; there is no front suspension, so you will still feel cobblestones in your wrists. For short trips through the city and the final part of a train journey, it works perfectly well. If you ride longer distances every day on poor road surfaces, you will want larger wheels.

Brakes and gears

The hydraulic disc brakes are more than adequate for a 17-kilogram bike, meaning you can stop with two fingers and rain does not affect braking performance. The seven Shimano gears provide enough range to keep pedaling without assistance if the battery runs out. The front and rear lights are permanently attached to the bike and run on the main battery, so you do not need to carry separate lights or keep track of batteries. The brake pads and discs use standard sizes, so they can be replaced at any service point. Hydraulic brakes occasionally need bleeding, but otherwise require little maintenance. The assistance works via a torque sensor: it measures how hard you press on the pedals and adjusts the assistance accordingly, instead of simply activating as soon as the pedals turn.

Who is the ENGWE Zip in gray for?

The frame is 43 centimeters, and the recommended height range in our specifications is approximately 1.20 to 1.45 meters, indicating that this model is designed for shorter riders. If you are taller, you will have more room on a 20-inch folding bike. The maximum total weight is 120 kilograms. This is not the right model for heavy luggage or long daily rides; it is well suited to compact transportation that you can take anywhere. Anyone who rides it daily will notice these design choices sooner than someone who occasionally takes a short ride. Consider where you will store the bike, as that often matters more than the specifications.

Ordering from Fatbikeskopen.nl

A compact frame feels different from how you might expect from a photo, so come and try it. You can do so at ten showrooms, where you can also fold and lift it right away. For maintenance, you can visit more than 450 locations in the Netherlands. When ordered online, the bike is delivered to your home ready to ride, assembled and adjusted. You can arrange insurance when placing your order. There is a three-year warranty on the frame and a one-year warranty on the components and battery.

See also: ENGWE folding bikes | folding bikes | folding electric bikes | folding bikes for camping